Somali pirates shot in rescue

Two aid workers who were being held in Somalia since October were freed after US Navy SEALs flew into the country and rescued them

US forces flew into Somalia on helicopters under the cover of darkness yesterday to rescue aid workers who had been held hostage since October.

The Danish Refugee Council confirmed that American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagan Thisted were freed during the operation. Buchanan, 32, and Thisted, 60, had been working with a de-mining unit of the council when they were kidnapped.

An official said the raid was carried out by the US military. A second official said helicopters took the hostages to a US base in the East African nation of Djibouti. The council said both hostages are unharmed and "on their way to be reunited with their families". There was no immediate confirmation on the raid from the US military. One pirate, though, said he had spoken to others at the scene of the raid and they reported that nine pirates had been killed.

It is believed that two helicopters attacked about 2am at the site where the hostages were being held about 20km north of the Somali town of Adado. The Danish Refugee Council had earlier enlisted traditional Somali elders and members of civil society to seek the release of the two hostages.

Several hostages are being held in Somalia, including two Spanish doctors.